Johnson Creek, WI
Mittsy Voiles
Mittsy has offered dog and puppy training classes at the clinic since 2007, and was hired as a behavior specialist in 2008. Her role is to make sure patients (and clients) have positive, low-stress visits to our clinic.
She is skilled in cooperative care for patients, and teaches dogs and cats how to participate in their care. She loves working with staff to devise creative new ways to support our clients and patients in having the best experience with veterinary care.
She is passionate about shelter medicine, having worked in animal shelters since 1998, including as Animal Care Manager at Elmbrook Humane Society in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
As founder and director of Good dog!, Queensland, Australia, 2003-2007, Mittsy developed and taught classes for puppies and adult dogs, focused on understanding behavior, preventing problems such as aggression and fearfulness, and providing proper care for the lifetime of the dog.
Her specialty is canine behavior, but her training has been across many species, including cats, ferrets, chinchillas, and zoo residents including bats, parrots, wombats, chimpanzees, baboons and dingoes.
Besides Australia, her travels have taken her to Iceland, New Zealand, Germany, England, Wales, Dubai, Canada, and all 50 U.S. States. Outside work, you can find her at one of Jefferson County's amazing parks.
Training Philosophy
Mittsy's training philosophy is simple, and is familiar to reward-based trainers around the world: If you train with your brain (rather than relying on equipment), you don't need physical contact with the animal you are training. The secret to training is to understand the animal, and to discover what motivates the animal to do what you want to teach. If you train for motivation, you get an animal who wants to work with you. That builds trust, invites optimistic behavior, and allows the animal to be creative.
Services
Mittsy offers dog and puppy training classes at the clinic, in-clinic behavioral services, special behavioral appointments to help your cat or dog overcome past bad experiences with nail trims, baths and other types of handling and care, comprehensive help for anxiety, aggression and more serious problems, in the clinic and via home visits.
Certifications
- CPDT-KA
Specializations
- Canine behavior
- Shelter medicine
- Cooperative care for patients
- Anxiety
- Aggression
Training Methods
- Reward-based training
- Positive reinforcement
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Our trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All our trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
